Los Angeles - The New York Knicks threw a Garden party, honouring several of their legends of decades past, but the Orlando Magic spoiled the celebration.

Dwight Howard collected 29 points with 14 rebounds, rookie Courtney Lee added a career-high 22 and the Magic overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 8.5 minutes to beat the Knicks, 106-102 on Monday night.

"I'm happy we won, but I'm not satisfied with our effort," Howard said. "We can't have games like this where we play with no energy and expect to win a championship."

The Magic can clinch its second consecutive Southeast Division crown with a victory over the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

"We got to be ready to play," Howard said. "Kevin Garnett is back, so we need to step up, because we could meet them in the Eastern Conference finals."

Turkish-native Hedo Turkoblu netted 12 of his 16 points in the final quarter when Orlando (52-18) outscored its hosts 36-23 to improve to 3-0 against New York this season.

"They kept leaving me open," Turkoglu said. "I guess they thought I was missing first half, I would keep missing or I would stop shooting. But you know me, I never stop shooting."

Nate Robinson scored 19, Wilson Chandler and Quintin Richardson added 17 apiece for New York (28-42) which had its playoff hopes grow dimmer with its fifth straight defeat, clinching a franchise-tying eighth consecutive losing season.

"I'm not worried about what happened the last seven years, I'm worried about this year," Knicks rookie coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I'm not very happy with the way things are going right now."

Howard had 20 points by halftime but New York led 54-50.

During the break Knick greats from the 1940's through the '90's including Willis Reed and Walt Frazier of the 1969-70 and '72-73 NBA Championship teams; along with Carl Braun (1940's), Richie Guerin (1950's), Bernard King (1980's) and Patrick Ewing (1990's) were individually introduced to a standing ovation by the appreciative Madison Square Garden crowd.

Dick McGuire, a Knick star in 40's and 50's, was also presented with the Knicks Legacy Award.

"Patrick is one of my favourite players of all-time," Howard said of Ewing who is currently an assistant coach for the Magic. "It means a lot to see him honoured. I'm thinking one day, when my career is over, I'll be honoured the same way."

After the ceremony, the Knicks stretched their lead to 84-74 with 8.5 minutes left to play before the Magic rallied.

Turkoglu converted a three-point play, and sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around one by Rashard Lewis to bring the Magic within 90-87 with 5.5 minutes remaining.

Turkoglu's layup gave Orlando a 93-90 edge with 3:20 remaining, but Richardson's three-pointer knotted it. Rafer Alston answered with one of his own as the Magic stayed in front 96-93 with 2:36 left.

Trailing by six, Robinson converted a three-point play, and Richardson made two free throws to draw the Knicks within 100-99 with 13 seconds left. However, Lee hit both foul shots, and after Robinson missed a potential game-tying triple, Lewis sank two from the stripe, making it 104-99.

When Chris Duhon drilled a three, the Knicks were within two, but Lee made two more to seal the win.

Elsewhere: Boston Celtics 90, LA Clippers 77 Ray Allen scored 20 points, Kendrick Perkins had 12 with 13 rebounds and the Celtics (54-18) rolled to their fourth straight win, while sending the Clippers to their ninth consecutive road defeat.

Miami Heat 94, Memphis Grizzlies 82 Dwyane Wade tossed in 27 points to shatter his own Miami single-season scoring record, and the Heat (38-32) handed the visiting Grizzlies their 17th loss in last 19 games.

Atlanta Hawks 109, Minnesota Timberwolves 97 Flip Murray scored a season-high 30 points, leading the Hawks to their eighth straight home win.

Chicago Bulls 101, Washington Wizards 99 Ben Gordon scored all 21 of his points in the second half, and the Bulls strengthened their hold by 1.5 games over idle Charlotte for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Antawn Jamison led the Eastern Conference-worst Wizards (16-56) with 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Phoenix Suns 118, Denver Nuggets 115 Grant Hill scored 23 points, Jason Richardson had 22 and the Suns shaded the visiting Nuggets to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points, but missed the game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, snapping Denver's five-game-winning streak.

Philadelphia 76ers 114, Portland Trail Blazers 110 (OT). Andre Miller scored six of his 27 points in overtime, Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala added 25 apiece as the 76ers (36-33) trimmed the host Blazers.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points with 12 rebounds for Portland (44-27) which dropped into a sixth-place tie with idle Utah in Western Conference playoff chase.